What’s Hot April 2nd 2009

In Issue 14

What’s hot around town, what to do, where to go and the hottest toys and gifts!

Things have been so hectic around the state over the last few weeks that it’s almost hard to keep up. On March 19th Lina Marie and her team featured the grand opening of Temptation Thursdays at Kaffe Krystal in Kendall. It was hot! Congratulations on a great opening night! South Florida’s Pridefest 2009 took place on Saturday and Sunday, March 21 and 22nd and although Saturday was a light day due to the torrential downpours, Sunday more than made up for it as the park was packed from opening to closing. The official parties at Living Room on Friday night, Sidelines on Saturday night and Voodoo on Sunday night were all jamming. Also on Saturday night Jim and his staff at Depot celebrated their 1st anniversary. We were there as Desiray played host and it was a real hoot! Here’s hoping that they have many more years of continued success. Saturday night also featured recording artist Amuka at Bill’s, which was a huge success. In addition to Amuka performing and signing autographs (by the way, she is a sweetheart) they were also celebrating Terry DeCarlo’s birthday (how old is he anyway?). Thursday, March 26th was day 4 of Alibi’s 12 days of celebrating their 12th anniversary and Jackson, Mark and their team were nice enough to make it the Hotspots Magazine and Latino Boys Magazine night. We were all there giving away CDs and over $1,000 in cash and prizes. Congratulations to all of the winners, especially Jim who won the flat screen TV and wanted to peddle home on his bike! The place was overflowing out into the parking lot where they had to set up another bar just to keep up. We all had a blast! Last Saturday Hotspots was proud to be host sponsor of Bravissimo 2009 at the Walt Lawrence and Stephen Lewis Center for Worship and the Arts in Fort Lauderdale. Under the artistic direction of Maestro Franco Bertacci and Kurt Litzenburger, this wonderful event showcased music from the classics to Broadway. Proceeds from the evening benefited the Sunshine Community Foundation. Watch for more coverage of this amazing evening in an upcoming edition of Hotspots Magazine.

Finally, we ended up in West Palm Beach for Pridefest 2009 on Saturday and Sunday. Thanks to everyone for stopping by our display and saying hello, we hope you enjoy your free copy of Hotspots’ Pride CD for 2009 featuring our very own DJ Ryan Morales!

Thursday, April 2nd

Today is day 11 of Alibi’s 12 days of celebrating their 12th anniversary and features the Alibi employee ring presentation ceremony at 8:30 pm. Congratulation to all of the recipients for a job well done!

Friday, April 3rd

The Sunshine Stampede is in town so giddy up, the annual gay rodeo starts today and goes all weekend! What’s that song about save a horse, ride a cowboy? Based on last year’s success, this is going to be wild! For more information about the rodeo, check out the schedule and ads in this week’s issue of Hotspots Magazine. The official FGRA Sunshine Stampede opening party is at Scandals Saloon. Don’t miss this one, hot men in tight jeans and tons of fun, need we say more?

The Boardwalk presents a fetish weekend tonight and tomorrow where the first 10 people in full fetish wear after 9 pm get in free (now that’s something you won’t see just anywhere). The Andrews Brothers, an “antic cross-dressing crowd pleasing musical” is filled with lush big band numbers from the 40’s such as Don’t Sit Under the Apple Tree, Hold Tight, Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy and more, will be playing at Rising Action Theater on Oakland Park Blvd. from now until May 17th. For more information go to RisingActionTheatre.com.Today is the grand finally of Alibi’s 12 days of celebrating their 12th anniversary. Be there the 12 different draws for thousands of dollars in cash and prizes, not to mention a really cool electric scooter (how’s that for going green)! This is also the kick off of Pioneer Days this rodeo weekend. Then at 11 pm they feature the CD release of Shrek the Musical. Don’t miss the wrap up of the biggest anniversary party in the state!

Saturday, April 4

The Wine Warehouse (1301 East Oakland Park Blvd.) presents a wine tasting event from 4 to 7 pm to benefit the Gay American Heroes Foundation with special guest Stuart Milk. Call Kevin for reservations at 954-465-8521 as space is limited. Admission is $20 and they have $550 in raffle prizes. The sponsors for this event are Bottoms & Tops, Aragon Inn and Michael McClure of Prudential with hors d’oeuvres provided by Joe Pallant Insurance. Bill’s presents the 2nd annual Hoedown with no cover. Leave your horse at the door!The monthly Salvation Saturdays at Score in Miami Beach stars DJ/Producer Stephan Grondin with an opening set by DJ Mark Picchiotti and a special midnight performance by RuPaul’s Drag Race winner BeBe. In addition, they will feature free Absolut Mango cocktails served by the Absolut models. Ramrod’s Monthly Pig Dance features cowboy video star Duke Rivers in the cage and DJ Lee Majors.Starting tonight and every Saturday the Honey Pot in Tampa presents “C*ckTEASE” upstairs featuring the best in hip hop all night.The famous Jackhammer presents “Leather Fantasy” starring DJ Phoenix and no cover all night ‘til close.

Sunday, April 5th

The FGRA Awards Ceremony and Official Closing Party is at Scandals Saloon. They will also be debuting LIQ, you’ve got to check it out, we hear it is finger licking good…The Jackhammer welcomes all contestants and visitors of the 2009 Sunshine Stampede with a rodeo T-dance. The night will also be celebrating owner Russ’s birthday (he tells us he’s still a pup but the AARP mail keeps coming!).Smarty Pants presents the 4th Annual Chili Cook-off, where entries must be turned in before the judging begins at 1 pm. The winner will receive $100 in cash and the runners up will receive a $50 and a $25 bar tab respectively. Don’t lift the sheets!

Monday, April 6th

Scandals and The Stable present the last chance to purchase mortgage/rent tickets. One person will win up to $1,000 to help pay their mortgage or rent when the drawing is held live at 10 pm at Scandals Saloon. Who can’t use a little help with the rent? Thanks to Ken, Lloyd and the boys for a great idea!Bill’s presents Sekond Nature at 9 pm with no cover. Sekond Nature is a two-man dynamic acoustic original rock group with very melody driven and catchy original music that has been described as “Pop.” Sekond Nature music has been compared to a cross between the Goo Goo Dolls, Matchbox 20, U2 and Counting Crows.

Hot StuffThe team at Sidelines is doing it again as they present their Second Annual Hockey Field Trip. The Florida Panthers take on the Washington Capitals on Saturday, April 11th. The price is $75 per person and includes game ticket in the exclusive Eastern Financial District seating area, full service buffet, free drinks (beer, wine and soft drinks) and round-trip bus transportation from Sidelines to the Bank Atlantic Center and kick-off party on game day at 4 pm. To reserve your seat see any manager on duty.

Tired of trying to find a parking spot in Wilton Manors? Well how about trying something big and green to get you around town? The new Green Hopper can pick you up and deliver you anywhere in Wilton Manors and it’s free! Please remember that their services are funded by your generous tips and sponsors like Sidelines Sports Bar. For more information go to TheGreenHopper.com.

CondolencesSadly, we have some bad news about Frances Milstead, beloved mother of the great screen comedian Divine, died after a bout with cancer and some other health setbacks. The author of the memoir My Son Divine and the subject of the recent documentary A Mother Divine, Frances is best known for birthing “Divvy,” the large, loud and hilarious star of John Waters’s films like Pink Flamingos and Female Trouble. Frances was a fun loving member of our community and will be missed.

Happy BirthdayRussell Johannsen (Steel/Jackhammer); Mike; Frank; Dave; Brandon Ratner; John S.; Steve from KY; Beau Campbell; and DJ Jimmy P. Our very best wishes to all of you, and to those we may have missed – Happy Birthday!

This Is HotThe skyrocketing trajectory of Dolly Parton’s extraordinary career took a quantum leap into the universe at the end of 1980. The double whammy was her newest “9 to 5” single hitting pop and country radio in November in advance of Dolly’s big screen debut in the 20th Century Fox movie of the same name. By early 1981, as “9 to 5” hit #1 on the Billboard hot 100 and top country charts and the movie was on its way to over 100 million gross (incredible in 1981), the RIAA gold album 9 to 5 And Odd Jobs had become a new staple in the Dolly Parton Catalogue on RCA Records. Nearly 3 decades later the countdown is on to Broadway’s April 7th opening at the Marriot Marquis Theatre of 9 to 5: The Musical, with 18 numbers composed by Dolly Parton. The story of Doralee, Violet, Judy and their arch nemeses Frank Hart (originally played by Dolly, Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda and Dabney Coleman respectively) reaches out with a new cast to a new generation of working class fans.